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Senator Abetz was referred to a newspaper article describing the committee as a "star chamber" and saying it was knocking back experienced coalition staffers, including the senator's long-time chief of staff, Chris Fryar.

Senator Abetz said Mr Fryar was now employed as a senior adviser.

"All you need to know is that at the end of the day it was decided by the prime minister as to who would be appointed to my ministerial staff and to the staff of my ministerial colleagues," he said when asked who told him about appointment decisions.

Senator Wong appeared angered by the response.

"All I need to know? That's the standard of transparency under this government, is it? All I need to know," she said.

When asked who signed the letter about his staff appointments, Senator Abetz thought it might have been Ms Credlin.

"I think. I think, and I stand corrected, but I think all of the correspondence was signed off by the chief of staff for the prime minister," he said.

"That is the best of my recollection, but I am happy to come back to you if I am not correct."